Cape Town - The WBBL Brisbane Heat have signed teenage South African batting prodigy Laura Wolvaardt ahead of the opening weekend of the Women's Big Bash League.

The 18-year-old will come in as an injury replacement for all-rounder Grace Harris.

Wolvaardt joined Brisbane this week after the WBBL Technical Committee approved her entry into the Australian tournament.

The Proteas batsman made her international debut at the age of 16, while still at high school.

Wolvaardt was one of the Proteas' best performers in the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup earlier this year, scoring 324 runs at an average of 64.8 at the top of the order, including half centuries against England and Australia.

READ: Wunderkind Wolvaardt has world at her feet

She is South Africa's youngest international century-maker, after scoring a match-winning 105 against Ireland Women in 2016 as a 17-year-old to wrap up a 67-run victory.

Heat coach Peter McGiffin said the club was thrilled when Wolvaardt became available after Harris' injury.

"Laura is a class act with the bat and certainly caught the eye during the World Cup this year so we jumped at the chance to secure her as an injury replacement for Grace," McGiffin told the club's website.

Brisbane play their opening match on Sunday against last season's runners-up the Perth Scorchers.

Last minute addition to the Heat #WBBL03 squad with South African batter Laura Wolvaardt joining us as an injury replacement. Story https://t.co/WZa73utbk4. #TurnUpTheHeat ???? pic.twitter.com/O2fcHutyc2

— Brisbane Heat WBBL (@HeatWBBL) December 6, 2017